Museum of Ceramics of Valencia (Palace of marquises DOS Aguas)

Even if you have no time or desire to visit the museum located in this building, it is worth coming here to admire the fantastic portal of the building. The palace not without reason is one of Valencia's characters and one of the main monuments of architecture of baroque, along with the main portal of cathedral Valencian cathedral and Blessed Virgin's basilica.

History and architecture of the palace of marquises DOS Aguas. Main portal of the palace

The palace was built in the 15th century for one of the most notable Valencian families. Throughout several centuries this luxurious mansion was perceived as an embodiment of eminence and wealth. The house during that era the merchant Rabassa family which grew rich at first on trade and then on transactions on leasing to the government of different property rights owned.

At the beginning of the 15th century noble Don Francisco Perellós from a dynasty of graphs of Toulouse married the only daughter of the wealthy nobleman (mosen) Jines de Rabassa, and their descendants began to carry a surname of Rabass De Perellós. In 1496 this family bought a title of barons DOS Aguas, and in 1699 the king Charles II granted them a title of marquises.

All this time representatives of family of Rabass de Perelyos continued to grow rich on transactions with the Valencian government and at the same time to hold high political posts, and also to fill up the status with large inheritances and a dowry at the expense of the profitable marriage unions with noble Valencian families.

As for the palace, originally it represented the Gothic building consisting of three body located around the inside patio. The house was decorated with a lonely toothed tower in a northwest corner. The facade was decorated by long gallery.

The palace in that type in what we see it today, is result of large reorganization to which in 1740 the family mansion of family of Rabass de Perelyos, marquises DOS Aguas, at the initiative of the third marquis DOS Aguas — Hines Rabassi de Perelios (Ginés Rabassa de Perellós) wishing to show the power and aristocratism underwent.

The palace has the form of the wrong quadrangle in the plan. It is built around the inside patio and decorated with towers on corners. Facades contain three floors: socle and two upper.

In a side facade there is a main attraction of this extraordinary building — the main portal in style of rococo (late baroque) created from alabaster by the Valencian sculptor Ignacio Vergara (Ignacio Vergara) (1715-1776) according to sketches of his friend, artist Hipólito Rovira (Hipólito Rovira Meri) (1693-1765) using protection the marchioness DOS Aguas. The same Hipólito Rovira executed also frescos on a palace facade, however they did not remain.

In composition of this majestic portal special attention is drawn by mighty naked Atlases — the allegorical men's figures representing two deepest rivers of the Valencian region: the Turiya River and the Hukar River washing ownerships of the marquis. On the parties of the portal stream, flowing round it, two water flows hinting at a title of the marquis (DOS Aguas it is possible to translate as "two rivers").

In the right part of the portal the crocodile heads, a quiver with arrows and a vessel from which water flow is thrown up are represented. Above one of the above described allegorical figures, and over her head — a decor in the form of an ivy around which the snake who curled up a ball is twisted is placed. The composition is supplemented by various vegetable ornaments.

The lying lion, a quiver with arrows and again a vessel with powerful water flow is on the left side provided. The leg of the second river giant relies on a trunk of a lion. At this composition there are also different vegetable ornaments. On a lintel of the portal the coat of arms of marquises DOS Aguas, family of Rabass de Perelyos and their notable relatives supported by two figures of savages with clubs is placed.

At last, in an upper part of the portal we see artly issued niche with a fine image of the Mother of God Rozariya (1864) of work of the Madrid sculptor Francisco Molinelli (apprx. 1834-1905). This sacred was esteemed as the patroness of the house DOS Aguas. At legs of the Mother of God two kneeling female figures, one with a horn of plenty which is crowded with fruit, another — with a vessel from which coins pour are represented. All this magnificent portal detects impetuous sensuality inherent in rococo, conviviality and freedom of forms.

At the second, much more modest portal which goes outside Calle Poeta Querol it is possible to see the small romantic fountain which replaced the ancient predecessor.

In 1853 a title of the marquis DOS Aguas because of the absence of lineal heirs inherited Don Vicente Dasí Lluesma. In 1854-1867 this mister performed large-scale conversions which generally concerned an ornamental design of an interior and an exterior of the building in the palace. The building in eclectic style uniting rococo, a new empire style and the Chinese decorative motives became a result of these additions. During this period in a niche over the portal there was a sculpture of the Mother of God with the baby executed by the Madrid sculptor Francisco Molinelli according to the general spirit of other sculptural furniture.

The Italian and French decorators invited by the owner adapted furniture of grids and balconies of the palace for Napoleonic tastes of that time. In the inside patio they replaced Gothic windows with the balconies decorated with bas-reliefs with the allegorical figures representing arts, agriculture and trade — a basis of prosperity of the marquis. In the center of a patio the small fountain with a figure of the baby sitting on a swan was placed.

The frescos decorating a facade strongly decayed by this time from humidity, and was decided to replace them with the plaster of gray-pink tones imitating marble. Then there were balconies with wavy balustrades in the French taste, and the former continuous balcony passing on all length of a facade was liquidated.

The interior of the palace was plastered and painted by Salustiano Asenjo, José Brel and other artists. Salons and the halls of the palace were decorated by pictures and marble. In these magnificent interiors the well-known balls and concerts with participation of the best singers and musicians coming to Valencia by the invitation of marquises DOS Aguas were held. In some premises of the palace the original furniture including brought from Dresden remained. Also here it is possible to see ceremonial carriages of marquises.

The palace in 1870

In 1969-1972 the new wing of the palace in accuracy reproducing style of a facade of the 19th century was constructed.

National museum of ceramics of Gonsalez Marty

In 1949 the palace was purchased by the Spanish state, and the National museum of ceramics and luxury goods of Museo Nacional de Cerámica y Artes Suntuarias González Martí/Museu Nacional de Ceràmica i de les Arts Sumptuàries was placed here. The ceramics collection collected by professor Manuel Gonsalez Marty and his spouse became a basis of the museum.

Magnificent halls of the building were carefully restored and were replenished with a large number of valuable works of art. The grand opening of the museum was held in 1954.

The museum of ceramics is one of the major sights of Valencia. Its rich collection is of not only art interest, but also tells about history and customs, holidays and celebrations of the past eras. Here it is possible to see, for example, excellently recreated typical Valencian cuisine of the beginning of the 19th century with a mass of traditional kitchen utensils from metal and ceramics and also colourful tiles "асулехос" with the image of genre scenes.

Besides, in the museum the ceramics of a primitive era, the Greek and Roman vessels, a large collection of medieval Muslim and Christian ceramics (including painted ceiling decorative tiles of socarrat) and also ceramic ware with metal gloss (loza dorada) of the 16-18th centuries, works of the 20th century in modernist style and even products of work of Picasso is provided.

In addition to actually museum collection (on the second floor), in the palace it is worth seeing the ballroom and other remained historical premises with the painted ceilings and a situation of the 19th century located on the first floor.

Besides, on the first floor it is possible to see the inside patio with the fountain, a front staircase and a collection of ancient carriages.

Working hours of the museum

The museum of ceramics is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. till 2 p.m. and from 4 p.m. till 8 p.m., on Sundays and holidays — from 10 a.m. till 2 p.m. Output Monday. The museum also does not work on January 1, on May 1, on December 24, 25 and 31, on January 6 and 22.

Entrance fee: €3. Children are younger than 18 years visit the museum free of charge. From March 8 to March 13 an input for women free. The museum can also be visited free of charge on Sundays, in the evening on Saturday, May 18, on April 18, on October 12 and on December 6.

It is allowed to photograph in the museum, but only without use of flash and a support. Large bags and packets need to be handed over in a left-luggage office.

Address of the museum

Calle Poeta Querol, 2/Rinconada García Sanchiz, 6.

Official site

The website of the National museum of ceramics in Valencia: mnceramica.mcu.es.